Prisoners: Resettlement

Baroness Wilkins: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish their response to the joint thematic report Through the Prison Gate published by the Chief Inspector of Prisons and the Chief Inspector of Probation.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Through the Prison Gate was the first joint thematic report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Probation on the theme of resettlement. The two chief inspectors have provided an authoritative and thoughtful analysis of what the prison and probation services are doing together to re-integrate offenders back into the community and so reduce re-offending and of what more both services need to do. We are very grateful to them for this analysis, much of which is reinforced in the report Reducing re-offending by Ex-Prisoners published today by the Social Exclusion Unit (SEU).
	Both of these reports recognise the importance of identifying the factors which need to be addressed for individual offenders if the risks of them re-offending are to be reduced. They also recognise the importance of developing an integrated approach to the management of offenders throughout their sentence.
	The chief inspectors' report makes recommendations on the need for:
	a national resettlement strategy;
	the position of short-term prisoners to be taken into account when reviewing the sentencing framework;
	the Prison and Probation Services to develop the What Works strategy and to achieve consistency and continuity in preventing re-offending and reintegrating offenders into the community;
	a case management approach, and of the Prison and Probation Services to review the respective roles of their staff at different stages of a prison sentence;
	the Prison Service to develop a strategy for prisoners to be located closer to home;
	the Prison and Probation Services to develop a co-ordinated partnership plan as part of their What Works resettlement strategy;
	both services to develop a joint strategy for drug and alcohol misuse;
	both services to provide guidance on the role of home detention curfew (HDC); and
	both services to ensure that a national public protection policy is developed for the assessment and management of risk in all cases.
	Many of these issues are also picked up in the SEU report. The Government will now be producing an action plan setting out our proposals for taking forward the recommendations. In drawing up that action plan we will also take account of the recommendations made by the chief inspectors.
	As the chief inspectors acknowledge, the Prison and Probation Services have made progress in developing and co-ordinating their resettlement policies under the What Works approach. However, there is a need for greater overall strategic direction, including greater sharing of good practice and performance targets.
	We have already taken steps to provide greater strategic direction by making arrangements for the establishment of the correctional services board, which will bring together the heads of the Prison and Probation Services and the Chair of the Youth Justice Board. Outside experience and skills will be provided by non-executive members. Early priorities for the board will include the development of a strategic plan for the correctional services, with a particular focus, as the report recommends, on improving provision for those sentenced to less than 12 months, and, in particular, 18 to 20 year-old offenders.
	In taking forward both the chief inspectors' and the SEU reports we will also be developing a national resettlement strategy. Details will be set out in the action plan which will now be developed.
	That action plan will also include proposals for developing and piloting a case management approach, as recommended by the chief inspectors, building upon the pilot schemes which the Prison and Probation Services are already running.
	Through the Prison Gate draws attention to the benefits of keeping prisoners closer to their homes in the months before release and to the benefits of home detention curfew in helping prisoners prepare for release. We believe that HDC can play an important part in helping offenders to settle back into the community in a controlled way.
	We also recognise the advantages for resettlement of prisoners being able to serve their sentences closer to home. Although the increasing prison population makes it difficult to achieve this, we will continue to explore both nationally and regionally what more can be done to minimise the number of prisoners held outside their home area.
	The importance of tackling drug and alcohol problems is highlighted in both Through the Prison Gate and the SEU report. A good deal of investment has been made by both services in this area, but there is clearly more to be done, particularly in ensuring continuity of care and of provision in the community. We will be addressing this issue further as we take forward the planning and implementation of our resettlement strategy.
	Through the Prison Gate also highlights the importance for a national public protection policy of the assessment and management of risk in all cases. The effective management of dangerous offenders is a priority for both the Prison and Probation Services. Both services have a detailed programme of work in support of their public protection objectives and are represented on the Home Office Dangerous Offenders Advisory Group. The establishment of multi-agency public protection panels has placed a statutory duty on police and probation services to make joint arrangements for the assessment and management of sexual, violent and other offenders who may cause serious harm. These panels work closely with the prison service and other agencies in managing the risk presented by such offenders. In addition, the National Probation Service is working with the Police Information Technology Organisation on the development of a joint police/probation database which will cover all offenders falling under the public protection duty placed on the police and the National Probation Service by the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.
	Both services are also working together with the Parole Board to develop revised guidance on the settling of licence conditions to ensure a more consistent approach and are piloting the use of electronic monitoring as a licence condition, focusing in particular on dangerous offenders.
	A detailed commentary on all the recommendations contained in the inspectorates' report describing work currently in hand by the Prison Service and the National Probation Service has been placed in the Library.
	Through the Prison Gate, together with the SEU report, has set out a challenging set of tasks for the new correctional services board. We will in due course be publishing an action plan setting out our detailed proposals in response to the SEU report and the recommendations of the chief inspectors.

Trafficking People

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the offence of people trafficking contained in Schedule 2, paragraph 3 to the Proceeds of Crime Bill is adequate to combat people trafficking in its various guises.

Lord Filkin: The offence currently specified in Schedule 2, paragraph 3, covers smuggling (facilitation of illegal entry) rather than trafficking. The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill contains a new offence of trafficking for the purposes of controlling someone in prostitution, and we will include this offence in Schedule 2.
	We have made clear that we regard this as a stop-gap offence pending the introduction of wider offences of trafficking for sexual and labour exploitation when parliamentary time permits. We will review how the POC provisions should apply to any new offences of people trafficking that are created.

Trafficking People

Lord Beaumont of Whitley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each of the last five years, what sum has been recovered by way of confiscation from those prosecuted for involvement in the sexual exploitation of women.

Lord Filkin: Under current legislation, the commercial sexual exploitation of women is not a specific legal offence. There are a number of exisiting offences relating to those who profit from the prostitution of others such as running a brothel. Information relating to the sums recovered as a result of confiscations from prosecutions in these cases is not currently centrally collected.

Trafficking People

Lord Beaumont of Whitley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What sums of money have been set aside to help victims of trafficking or sexual exploitation.

Lord Filkin: In the White Paper Secure Borders, Safe Haven we have set out a comprehensive approach for victims in order to facilitate their giving evidence agianst the traffickers who have brought them here to exploit them. In co-operation with the voluntary sector, we will make arrangements for their protection and in some cases we recognise that it may be appropriate for them to remain here. We will also provide support for those returning to their home countries. This initiative will run on a trial basis for six months in the first place so that we can evaluate its impact. The funding arrangements are under discussion.

Justice and Home Affairs Council, 13 and 14 June

Lord Desai: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to detail the outcome of the Justice and Home Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 13 and 14 June and what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record.

Lord Filkin: I, together with my right honourable friend the Home Secretary and my right honourable friend Jim Wallace, the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice for Scotland, represented the United Kingdom at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 13 June.
	A points: the A points were approved as in document 9825/02 PTS A 31 and ADD 1 and COR 1 (a copy of which has been placed in the Library), except points 23, 24, 25 and 45.
	Terrorism: the Council noted a terrrorism threat assessment document, Europol reports on security measures taken since 11 September and extremist terrorism and a report on the current list of terrorist organisations. The Director of Europol reported on the work of the Europol Counter-Terrorism Task Force, noting that the provision of information to Europol had improved but remained insufficient and that more could be done to improve co-operation with the United States.
	Activities of the Spanish Presidency on the subject of violence against women, to be submitted by the Ministers of Education, Justice, Home Affairs and Health at forthcoming Councils: the Presidency presented a study on measures adopted by member states to combat violence against women and a guide to good practice to mitigate the effects of and eradicate violence against women.
	Illegal immigration and external borders: during a general debate on illegal immigration and asylum, the Home Secretary called for the Seville European Council to deliver concrete results so that citizens could see the relevance of a European Union (EU) approach. He said that the message should not be one of "Fortress Europe" but a coherent policy which opposed racism, welcomed legal inward migration, protected refugees and ensured that each member state accepted its responsibilities. The Home Secretary vigorously supported common action to protect the European Union's external frontier, arguing that this should be achieved through the use of joint operations at weak points in the border, extensions of the immigration liaison officer network and greater use of Europol's expertise, rather than through the establishment of a new border police. He also supported the need to complete work on common asylum measures and co-operation with third countries in a spirit of "positive conditionality", involving the provision of assistance to support returns and develop migration infrastructures.
	The Council also noted a Presidency report on progress made in the fight against illegal immigration, agreed conclusions on measures to be established for the prevention of and the fight against illegal immigration and the trafficking of human beings by sea and agreed a plan on the management of external borders.
	Proposal for a Council regulation establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the member state responsible for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the member states by a third country national: in discussing key aspects of the draft Dublin II Regulations, the majority of member states, including the United Kingdom, said that the exisitng Dublin convention criteria should be taken as a starting point but that procedures should be improved and time limits shortened. Two member states with difficult external frontiers argued that they should not be penalised by virtue of their geographical position. Two other member states also opposed the proposed new criterion on tolerated illegal presence.
	Proposal for a Council Decision on the implementation of specific measures for police and judicial co-operation to combat terrorism in accordance with Article 4 of Common Position 2001/931/CFSP: the Council reached a general approach on the Council decision. Portugal, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom maintained parliamentary scrutiny reserves on the text.
	Proposal for a Council framework decision laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of drug trafficking: the Council reached a general approach on the majority of the text. However, member states were divided by a proposal to permit the imposition of lower penalties for trafficking in small quantities of drugs. The Presidency concluded that discussions on this item would continue under the Danish Presidency.
	Proposal for a Council directive to improve access to justice in cross-border disputes by establishing minimum common rules relating to legal aid and other financial aspects of civil proceedings: the Council agreed that the scope of the draft legal aid directive should be limited to cross-border claims.
	Proposal for a Council regulation creating a European enforcement order for uncontested claims: the Commission presented its proposal for a European enforcement order. This would abolish, in uncontested cases, the requirement for a court to examine the procedure by which a judgment was issued in another member state before recognising the validity of that judgment.
	Civilian aspects of crisis management: the Presidency reported that member states had met the targets set by the Gothenburg European Council for the provision of officials and judges to international missions intended to strengthen the rule of law in third countries.
	Any other business: the Commission presented its revised scoreboard on the implementation of the Tampere European Council conclusions.
	Mixed Committee: the Mixed Committee with Norway and Iceland met at ministerial level in the margins of the Council. It noted the existence of two negotiating mandates for the association of Switzerland with the implementation of the Schengen acquis, the Dublin Convention and Eurodac acquis; of a general approach on the proposal for a decision amending Article 40 of the Schengen Convention, subject to parliamentary scrutiny reserves from Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom; of conclusions concerning the new requirements for the Schengen Information System (SIS) and a technical solution for the participation in the SIS by the United Kingdom and Ireland, reflecting the partial participation of the United Kingdom and Ireland in Schengen; and of a plan on the management of external borders.

Single Currency

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(a) whether they will provide details of each section of each Act of Parliament in force relating to any duties and powers of (1) the Bank of England or (2) any Minister of the Crown, which would be transferred to the European Central Bank or other institution of the European Community in the event of full accession of the United Kingdom to the euro monetary system; and
	(b) whether they will place details in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: If government, Parliament and the people—in a referendum—decide to join a successful single currency, the transfer of legal responsibility for monetary policy to the European Central Bank would entail changes to the domestic legislation of the United Kingdom governing the formulation and conduct of monetary policy, at least to the extent necessary to ensure compatibility with the EC Treaty and the statute of the ESCB.

Single Currency

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any decision to abolish the pound and adopt the euro would be irrevocable; and, if so, how the constitutional principle that one Parliament cannot bind its successor would be maintained.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I refer the noble Lord to the comments I made during the debate on 24 June 1999 (Official Report, col. 1063).

Malawi

Lord Steel of Aikwood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether their representative on the International Monetary Fund has reported on the demand of the fund that the government of Malawi should sell grain stocks to repay government debt and the effect this has during the current drought and crop failure in the country.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: It has not been a requirement of the International Monetary Fund that Malawi government grain stocks be sold to repay debt, nor has the fund had any role in developing such a policy. The fund programme agreed by the government of Malawi contains no conditions in this regard.
	In line with the Malawi government food security policy, government publicly included in their letter of intent to the fund in December 2000 their decision to reduce grain stocks to 60,000 tonnes, from 167,000 tonnes. The letter of intent is a broad government policy document and there is no link between such letters and access to fund resources.
	These grain stocks were seen as appropriate for a disaster response, which, when coupled with an early warning system, should have allowed time to import necessary food.
	However, the Government of Malawi sold all of their food stocks, which has exacerbated the crisis. This sale has recently been under investigation by the National Audit Office, and it is unclear what happened to the proceeds from these sales.
	The Government of Malawi have admitted that the early warning system failed, and the UK Department of International Development is working with others to assist the Government of Malawi in developing a comprehensive long-term national food security strategy.
	At the same time, the UK has allocated £13 million to direct support for food import and distribution in Malawi and Zimbabwe, and in addition we have recently committed £45 million for further support through the World Food Programme for NGOs for food distribution and inputs for the next planting season in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland.

IMF: Accountability

Lord Steel of Aikwood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What accountability mechanisms exist for the International Monetary Fund to be answerable to member governments.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The board of governors, on which all member countries are represented, is the highest authority governing the IMF and through which IMF management is held accountable by member governments. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the UK's governor. The board of governors meets once a year at the IMF annual meetings.
	The International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC), currently chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, is the main committee of the board of governors. The IMFC is the main forum for discussing IMF policies at ministerial level. The IMFC meets twice a year at the spring and annual meetings.
	On a day-to-day basis the IMF is answerable to the executive board, which is responsible for conducting the business of the fund. There are 24 executive directors representing all member countries through a constituency system. The UK is a single country constituency and the executive director is a senior official from HM Treasury.
	The recent establishment of the IMF's Independent Evaluation Office is an important development to enhance the accountability of the IMF. After wide consultation with member governments, the IMF and civil society on the design of their work programme, the IEO intends to publish its first report, on repeat use of fund resources, in time for the annual meetings. The IEO will continue to report regularly to member governments through the IMFC and the executive board.
	The Government are also committed to improving the accountability and transparency of the UK's dealings with the IMF. HM Treasury publishes an annual report to Parliament and to the public describing in detail the position taken by the UK on key policies and operations.

RPIX

Lord Jacobs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What would be the retail prices index (to two decimal places) excluding mortgage interest payments (RPIX) in December 2000, December 2001 and May 2002 if the depreciation of owner-occupied houses, which has been a component of the index since 1995, were to be excluded from 1 January 2000; and how this compares with the RPIX of the relevant months.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from the National Statistician, Len Cook, dated 1 July 2002.
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the Retail Prices Index (RPI). Your question asks what the all items RPI excluding mortgage interest payments (RPIX) would be in December 2000, December 2001 and May 2002 to two decimal places if the depreciation component were excluded and how this compares with RPIX of the relevant months.[HL4877]
	The table below compares index levels for RPIX and RPIX, excluding the depreciation component, for each of the months in question. These indices are shown to one decimal place, the level of accuracy we deem to be of publishable quality.
	
		Selected RPI indices, Jan 1987=100
		
			 Month RPIX RPIX excluding depreciation 
			 December 2000 169.3 167.7 
			 December 2001 172.5 170.5 
			 May 2002 175.2 173.0 
		
	
	You might like to note for future reference that these figures are published each month in table 2 of the Consumer Price Indices First Release and on the National Statistics website www.statistics.gov.uk.

Deaths of Privates Benton, James, Gray and Collinson

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In respect of the deaths of Private Benton in June 1995, Private James in November 1995, Private Gray in September 2001 and Private Collinson in March 2002, what was the precise date of death in each case; where was the body found; on what date was the investigation into death concluded; what was the rank and status of the person in charge of that investigation; whether there was a civil inquest; if so, on what date was that inquest held, and by whom; and what was the finding of that inquest.

Lord Bach: Private Benton died on 9 June 1995; his body was found at the perimeter fence at the Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut. The death was investigated by Surrey police, with assistance from the Special Investigation Branch Royal Military Police (SIB RMP).The exact date of conclusion is not clear. The coroner's inquest took place on 6 July 1995 and recorded "self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the chest".
	Private James died on 27 November 1995; her body was found in a wooded area adjacent to the Royal Way rear gate at the Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut. The death was investigated by Surrey police, with assistance from SIB RMP. The exact date of conclusion is not clear. A coroner's inquest took place on 21 December 1995 and recorded an open verdict.
	Private Gray died on 17 September 2001; his body was found at the perimeter fence adjacent to the Officers' Mess. A coroner's inquest took place on 19 March 2002 and recorded an open verdict.
	Private Collinson died on 23 March 2002; his body was found at the perimeter fence of the Officers' Mess. No coroner's inquest has yet taken place.
	The deaths of Private Gray and Private Collinson are subject to ongoing investigations by a detective chief inspector of the Surrey police. An Army board of inquiry will be held into each incident in due course, although this cannot take place until the associated police investigations are complete.

Trafalgar

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have, or may have, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the naval victory of Trafalgar in 2005.

Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence is working closely with a number of organisations to develop the Royal Navy's plans for the commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar in 2005. Led by the Official Nelson Commemoration Committee, which brings together the interests of a wide range of maritime museums and associations connected with the Nelson heritage, a national and international programme of cultural and commemorative events is being discussed, among which a number of events involving the Royal Navy are being considered but at this stage it is too early to be precise.

RAF Human Centrifuge Contract: Environmental Tectonics Corporation

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether at the time of the signing of the contract with the Environmental Tectonics Corporation they were aware of any failures by the company to deliver on contracts to supply equipment of a similar kind to other customers.

Lord Bach: At the time of signing the contract for the RAF human centrifuge with the Environmental Tectonics Corporation the Ministry of Defence was unaware of any failures by that company to deliver on contracts to supply equipment of a similar kind to other customers.

RAF Human Centrifuge Contract: Environmental Tectonics Corporation

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the in-service date expected for the RAF human centrifuge project at the time of the signing of the contract with Environmental Tectonics Corporation.

Lord Bach: The contractual date at which the Environmental Tectonics Corporation human centrifuge was to have been taken into service by the Ministry of Defence was 28 October 1999. This date has remained unchanged since the signing of the contract.

RAF Human Centrifuge Contract: Environmental Tectonics Corporation

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they first became aware of the inability of Environmental Tectonics Corporation to fulfil the contract for the RAF human centrifuge, and
	What is the total expenditure to date on the RAF human centrifuge project.

Lord Bach: This information is the subject of legal proceedings between the Ministry of Defence and the company and as a result I am withholding this information in accordance with Exemption 4 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which relates to legal proceedings.

RAF Human Centrifuge Contract: Environmental Tectonics Corporation

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any payments have been made to Environmental Tectonics Corporation in respect of the RAF human centrifuge project.

Lord Bach: I can confirm that, in accordance with the contract, payments have been made to the Environmental Tectonics Corporation in respect of the RAF human centrifuge project.

RAF Human Centrifuge Contract: Environmental Tectonics Corporation

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 29 May (WA150), whether the sentence "We anticipate that the costs for the new project will be in line with the original costs for the programme" is intended to mean that the total of the expenditure on the aborted contract to date and of the new proposed contract for the RAF human centrifuge will be no more than that expected for the original aborted contract.

Lord Bach: The meaning of the sentence "We anticipate that the costs for the new project will be in line with the original costs for the programme" is that the anticipated total expenditure on the new proposed contract for the RAF human centrifuge will be no more than that on the original aborted contract with Environmental Tectonics Corporation. This does not include payments made to ETC in accordance with the original contract prior to its termination, as these are currently the subject of legal proceedings.

Courts Martial

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many occasions, for the last 12 month period for which records are available, members of the Armed Forces have elected for trial by court martial rather than accept summary jurisdiction but no court martial was subsequently initiated by the appropriate service prosecuting authority; and, if no records are kept, why not.

Lord Bach: During the period 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001, the Naval Prosecuting Authority decided not to proceed with trial by court martial in 11 instances where personnel had elected for trial by court martial rather than accept summary justice. In the Royal Air Force, where personnel elected for trial by court martial rather than accept summary jurisdiction, all the cases referred during 2001 proceeded to court martial. The Army Prosecuting Authority has approximately 750 cases per year referred to it for a decision on whether to proceed to court martial, but its records do not separately identify those where the individual has elected for trial by court martial. Arrangements will be made to collect this information in future.

Courts Martial

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many members of the Armed Forces have been awaiting court martial for: (a) up to eight weeks; (b) between eight weeks and 16 weeks; (c) between 16 and 26 weeks; and (d) between 26 weeks and 52 weeks; and, if no records are kept, why not.

Lord Bach: As at 31 May 2002, the numbers of Armed Forces personnel awaiting court martial are as recorded below. The periods of time were calculated from when commanding officers received court martial papers to serve on the accused.
	Naval Service
	Up to 8 weeks—15
	8–16 weeks—46
	16–26 weeks—15
	26–52 weeks—8
	Royal Air Force
	Up to 8 weeks—25
	8–16 weeks—101
	16–26 weeks—3
	26–52 weeks—1
	Army
	The numbers of Army personnel awaiting court martial is not recorded in weeks. To require it to be so would incur disproportionate effort. However, the information is available in the following quarterly format:
	Up to 3 months—107
	3–6 months—122
	6–9 months—229
	9–12 months—162
	12–15 months—111
	15–18 months—50
	The Army has implemented a number of initiatives to shorten the waiting time in bringing cases to court martial. These include an improved monitoring system, prioritising investigations into more serious cases, a more flexible assize system to allow better use of court time and the establishment of an Office for Standards of Casework (Army) under a brigadier to monitor casework processes and promote improvements. The Army is fully committed to reducing further the time taken to bring cases to court.

ASTUTE Class Submarines

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Where the ASTUTE class submarines will be based.

Lord Bach: Both the first and second batches of ASTUTE class submarines will be based at HM Naval Base Clyde. The first batch is already on order and a decision on the procurement of the second batch of up to three further ASTUTE class submarines is expected later this year.

Strategic Sealift Capability

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made toward finalising the arrangements for the UK's future military strategic sealift capability.

Lord Bach: We are pleased to announce that negotiations with AWSR Shipping Ltd have been concluded and a PFI contract that will run until 2024 has been signed. The full service will be available from 2003. AWSR will provide, operate, maintain and manage six roll-on-roll-off vessels and supply crews for the whole of the period of their contract; 180 new jobs for British seafarers will be created. After a phase-in period, crews will be sponsored reserves. Based on a projected usage, the service is worth some £950 million, of which some £800 million is likely to be spent in the United Kingdom.
	All six ships will not be needed all the time for Ministry of Defence work. When not engaged on MoD tasks they will be available for commercial trade.
	The service will play a central role in fulfilling our Strategic Defence Review commitment to enhance the Armed Forces' equipment lift requirements and allow the movement of the joint rapid reaction forces quickly to overseas theatres as required.

Radioactive Waste

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice they have received from the Royal Society on the management of existing radioactive waste from nuclear power stations and military activities; what is this response; and whether existing arrangements are adequate.

Lord Whitty: The Royal Society responded on 12 March to the consultation paper Managing radioactive waste safety published last September by the Government and the devolved administrations. A copy of this response has been placed in the Library of the House.
	Our paper said that we must decide how we are going to manage up to 500,000 tonnes of solid radioactive waste over the next several thousand years and it proposed a programme of action for reaching that decision. We are now evaluating the outcome of the consultation. We shall shortly publish a summary of responses and announce what we plan to do next.

Small Farmers: EU Subsidy Scheme

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' departmental report 2002, why there is any need to consider whether to implement the European Union's simplified scheme for payment of subsidies to small farmers.

Lord Whitty: The Government believe that the scheme offers the welcome possibility of simplifying subsidy claims for a small number of English farmers. However, there is a need to consider whether the significant costs of implementation represent the best use of available resources within the department at this particular time. I expect to make a final decision later in the summer.

Casualty Watch Surveys

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they believe that national Casualty Watch surveys are valuable; and, if so, which body or bodies are expected to carry out such surveys once community health councils have been abolished.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government give careful consideration to Casualty Watch surveys but they need to be considered alongside other evidence to give a full picture of the patient experience of the National Health Service.
	Patient surveys and reports from patients forums will in the future provide this evidence locally. Nationally the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health will be able to ask patients forums across the country to carry out Casualty Watch type activity. This activity will not be limited to looking at accident and emergency departments; rather it will be able to review any issue that is of national concern following a review of patients forums annual activities. These reviews will therefore reflect the matters that are important to patients and will not be limited to single issues determined by the centre. The commission will be able to report its findings to the Secretary of State for Health and any other body it deems appropriate.

Mixed Sex Wards

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked her Majesty's Government:
	What is their definition of a mixed sex ward and a single sex ward; and
	Whether each hospital trust or individual hospital is free to use its own criteria as to what constitutes a single sex ward or whether there are guidelines laid down which are to applied to all National Health Service hospitals; and
	Whether, where mixed sex wards exist, patients are given the opportunity to refuse treatment in them in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Health; and
	Whether inspections of hospitals are undertaken to assess the progress of eliminating mixed sex wards; and whether regular reports are made to Ministers on the results of those inspections; and
	Whether all mixed sex wards in the National Health Service hospitals, other than intensive care units, will have been eliminated by 31 December 2002; and, if not, why not.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have set a target of December 2002 for the provision of single sex accommodation in 95 per cent of trusts.
	Guidance on maintaining privacy and dignity was first issued to the service in 1997 and since then trusts have been working towards clear targets to eliminate mixed sex accommodation.
	There are three targets that trusts are working towards. These are:
	ensuring that appropriate organisational arrangements are in place to secure good standards of privacy and dignity for hospital patients;
	achieving fully the Patient's Charter standard for segregated washing and toilet facilities across the NHS;
	providing safe facilities for patients in hospital who are mentally ill which safeguard their privacy and dignity.
	Guidance is set out in EL(97)3 and EL(97)53. A monitoring tool was issued with HSC 1998/143. In addition, guidance on achieving single sex accommodation Enhancing Privacy and Dignity has been issued to the NHS, together with Health Building Notes and Design Guides HBM 4 In-patient accommodation—Options for Choice. The guidance provides NHS trusts with design solutions for new accommodation to meet the requirements of privacy, dignity and safety.
	The Government define appropriate levels of privacy and dignity as being wards split into single sex bays, or single rooms, with associated single sex toilet facilities.
	The majority of hospital wards are usually subdivided into bays and single rooms which are designated as male or female and are therefore able to care for men and women without compromising privacy and dignity. Each NHS trust will decide how to configure their wards to meet local needs and case mix demands and to reflect the design of the ward.
	It is the responsibility of each NHS trust to manage patient admissions in such a manner as to ensure that patient privacy is protected. Guidance on maintaining patient privacy and dignity was issued to the service in 1997. This advises that patients are given the opportunity to request alternative accommodation where accommodation offered is shared by men and women. Where a patient refuses admission into hospital because of shared accommodation, a further admission date into appropriate segregated accommodation is offered.

Borderline Substances Advisory Committee

Lord Naseby: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How long it normally takes the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances to assess a case and make a decision.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances meets three times a year to consider applications from companies. Decisions are taken immediately on applications which are supported by satisfactory evidence. The committee may reject other applications or request further evidence. Applications or additional evidence are not considered outside the cycle of regular meetings.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 22 January 2002 (HL Deb, col. 120) and the adult stem cell research carried out by Professor Verfaillie and her team and published today in Nature Online, whether they conclude that embryonic stem cell research should now stop.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Verfaillie paper is one of two papers published in Nature Online which report developments in stem cell research. In contrast, the other reports encouraging findings using embryonic stem cells in a mouse model of Parkinson's Disease.
	Government policy remains that stem cell research should be a priority area. The Government believe strongly that no single source of stem cells should be worked upon exclusively but wish to see research continue to move forward on adult, cord blood, fetal and embryonic stem cells.
	The licensing of individual projects involving embryo research is a matter for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which will assess whether the use or creation of human embryos is necessary.

Government Documents: Availability to Peers

The Duke of Montrose: asked the Leader of the House:
	Whether he will take steps to ensure that Members of this House can obtain properly printed government documents when they are required for consideration in this House rather than being forced to print out those documents from departmental websites.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Current practice on which documents government departments and agencies send to the House of Lords, and in which form they are supplied, varies from department to department and among the various government agencies.
	In my view, any document mentioned on the House of Lords Order Paper should be available to Members of the House in every form in which it is available, be that as a printed document, a website download or even a CD-ROM.
	To this end I have written to Sir Richard Wilson today suggesting that coherent guidance should be given to all government departments and agencies that whenever a document they produce is mentioned on the House of Lords Order Paper, or is likely to be of particular interest to the House, adequate copies of that document should be sent to the Printed Paper Office, I have asked Sir Richard to cascade this guidance down through the various permanent secretaries and agency chief executives.

Electoral Commission: Accountability

Lord Lipsey: asked the Leader of the House:
	Who in the House of Lords is responsible for answering Questions on the Electoral Commission.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Accountability arrangements for the Electoral Commission are governed by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. Section 1 of the Act sets up the Electoral Commission as a statutory body independent of government. As such, the Act makes no provision for ministerial accountability. However, Section 2 of the Act establishes a Speaker's Committee with powers to approve the commission's five-year plan and estimates. Schedule 2 to the Act makes provision for the Speaker's Committee to report to the House of Commons. The Act makes no corresponding provision requiring any report to be made to this House either by a Minister or by the Speaker's Committee.